Archive By Section - Dear Annie

Dear Annie: Three years ago, my father had a big fight with his sister, my "Aunt Joan." Aunt Joan did some things that were truly selfish and hurtful, and all of the family agrees that her actions were inexcusable. She has since cut off all contact with the family.

Dear Annie: My 20-year-old son from a previous marriage lives with my husband and me. "Jacob" is in his second year of college and maintains a B average. He has worked the same part-time job since he turned 16 and pays all of his own bills, including car insurance, cell phone and basic necessities. Student loans cover his tuition. He is a terrific kid, never disrespectful, and is loved by everyone.

Dear Annie: My neighbors are kind, caring and amazingly nosy. I recently began working from home in order to take care of my partner. I'm grateful that my company allows me to do this. But these well-intentioned neighbors just won't believe I am employed. They insist that since I am at home all day, I am simply too proud to admit I lost my job. Every time we meet, they ask, "So, you still looking for work?"

Dear Annie: I've known my 26-year-old stepdaughter, "Monica," since she was 5. She never spent much time with her father, but when the first grandchild was born, she came by more often because she wanted a babysitter. Her dad and I were together 21 years before he passed away six months ago.

Dear Annie: How do I deal with being married to someone I simply do not like? After 15 years, I realize that I don't enjoy being around my husband. I look forward to him leaving the house. It is hard for me to do anything for someone I feel nothing for. I am just going through the motions. Is this what marriage is supposed to be?

Dear Annie: My relationship with my 22-year-old daughter, "Lana," has become impossible. She is a total slob. She lived here over the summer and did exactly one load of laundry. It was not uncommon to come home and find dishes in the sink because she "didn't have time" to empty the dishwasher. Her clothes and shoes were everywhere. My husband paid rent on her college apartment so she could keep it while she worked here for the summer, and she decided to use her own money to take a weeklong vacation. She didn't pay her car insurance (my ...

Dear Annie: My husband and I are victims of a "home invasion." My 60-year-old sister, one of 13 siblings, recently arrived at our house, unannounced, with her roommate and her large dog. (We have a cat.)

Dear Annie: My sister, "Didi," has been living with my husband and me for several months. Didi pays a modest amount of rent based on her income -- but we set it up before she started working more consistently. She now has a part-time job and still doesn't contribute anything more. If she were saving her money, I would understand, but she's spending it on clothes and expensive makeup. She rarely helps around the house with cleaning or cooking.

Dear Annie: I am 26 years old and happily married. We recently moved into our first home, next door to "Tom and Sophie," a childless 45-year-old couple. My wife likes Sophie, and I enjoyed Tom's company until he asked me to join him on a fishing trip.

Dear Annie: My roommate, "Trish," and I are good friends, and we are both attending the same college. Last spring, her boyfriend spent a lot of time at our apartment. He stayed overnight several times, which made me uncomfortable. I spoke with both of them about it and offered to spend one night a week at my parents' house so they could have the apartment to themselves. Trish agreed, but her boyfriend didn't. He continued to hang out at the apartment even when she wasn't there and liked to walk around in his underwear without a shirt.

Dear Annie: I don't have the best relationship with my nephew, "Bob." He has asked for a number of favors from me in the past and has gotten very nasty when things didn't go his way. He has also bragged about abusing people and pets, and he enjoys making people angry, violating laws and bucking authority.

Dear Annie: I am concerned about my mother, a 66-year-old widow of 15 years. When my father was alive, Mom worked full time, kept a reasonably clean house and raised two children by herself. (My father was an alcoholic who was not around much.) In the years since Dad died, however, the house has gone to ruin.

Dear Annie: Six months ago, I met the girl of my dreams at a restaurant that I frequent several times a week. I was eating lunch there long before she started serving, but the first day I saw her, I began sitting in her section.